San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-04-21
Housekeeping Pests.

Complaints are made from various sec
tions of band of baking powder tramp
whose tricks upon unsuspecting housekeep
ers seem to partake very much of the ma
ture of confidence operations. The band IL
composed of women, although employed
and directed by an agent of the other sex
and their methods OF procedure, rs explain.
ed by several ladies who have been victim
lied, is as follows: Obtaining access tt
the kitchen, they introduce the subject o
baking powders, inquiring the kind used il
the family. Being shown the can, perhaps
fresh, full one, they volunteer to "test
it to ascertain its qualities. Their "test'
consists in placing the can on hot stove or
over lamp or gas jet, or in mixing the
baking powder with water both hot and
cold. If the baking powder is good for any.
thing the heat will, of course, expel the gas,
which, being ammoniacal or carbonic, is
apparent to the sense of smell. The claim
is then made that this odor indicates some
thing detrimental, although, rs matter oi
fact, a baking powder that would give of
no gas when subjected to heat would be
without leavening power and valueless.
They will also mix the baking powder given
them with water. If pure it effervesces
quickly. The baking powder they peddle
being similarly mixed foams up slowly like
yeast, standing, perhaps, over the top OF
the glass. This they claim rs evidence of
superiority. whereas il is the exhibition of
trick only, their baking powder having
been specially prepared to make this test by
the addition of -four, gum or albumen. II
is sure evidence of adulteration. OF course
the object of these fraudulent tricks is TO
destroy confidence in all other kinds of
baking powder, and 20 sell the particular
brand for which the women are travelling.
Were this the whole of the operation.
housekeepers would not often be deceived
Every intelligent person knows that baking
powder is not made TO be used in this way.
but in cooking where its action Is entirely
different from that produced by dry heat
or by mixture with water alone. The chief
object Of this jugglery Is 10 destroy the
baking powder given for testing; or by
heating il 10 drive OF its leavening gases,
and so weaken Il that when used il will fail
10 work. At the next baking there Is heavy
food, Of course, and the tramp" probably
gets The credit Of having told the house
keeper a valuable fact, instead Of having
spoiled her baking powder, as was actually
the case. The average tramp" will In
this way. destroy from fifty TO seventy-hve
pounds Of baking powder day.
A second method of spelling for use The
baking powder 10 a kitchen where they are
not permitted TO experiment With IL j. by
dexterously throwing in The cAn a snail
quantity q salt. soda or Pogdered lime.
Again. should there chance 20 be no baking
powder in the b0use. the operAtOrS win pro
duoe, o. the kind used By the family.
sample that has been purpo~ely ndnlterAted
OF .doctored- 20 make s1ch An erhiblt -
they desire under the so-cailed test.
The Snly Wy 10 protect our food from
being contaminated By iraups Of this kind
Is b turn Al persc-s Who uish o. attempt
10 ta-npsr sith i uDcereunoniously frcin tbe
doo-. ana 90 uae fhoss articles. o-ly, Nhich
exr.erience has proved ssfisfsciory. o. The
ozeisl tests have esiEbliahsd e. P1rs aod
riloissolss.